Ch.58Chapter 58. Sincerity, Not Force

After parting with Swen who said he would “join soon.”

Upon arriving at Castle Raclaine, located at the easternmost point, Irene fortunately encountered Farfalle who was about to leave the castle.

“General Irene?”

“It’s been a while, Strategist. Are you on a mission?”

“I was just about to return… What brings you here, General?”

Irene bowed her head slightly in response to Farfalle’s question.

“I’ve been assigned here by order of my lord. I’ll be carrying out my duties at Castle Raclaine from now on.”

“Is that so…?”

Upon hearing this, Farfalle tilted her head and fell into thought.

The lord Lynn was deploying Irene to the eastern border?

Being stationed at the border meant, at least in the Brans army, that they trusted the general’s abilities enough to use them in important locations.

In fact, many generals stationed at the borders were significantly more capable than those assigned to castles away from the borders.

But Lynn extremely disliked Irene.

Because of that, no matter how much advice was given, she absolutely refused to use Irene in any significant capacity.

Even though Farfalle herself had advised several times, she had half given up.

But now Lynn had personally stationed Irene on the eastern front, currently the most important battlefront for the Brans army?

Farfalle had been in the east the whole time, so she hadn’t had a chance to advise her separately.

‘What on earth is happening…?’

Was it a strategist’s intuition?

As she wondered if something unexpected was occurring, Irene offered her a light greeting.

“Then I’ll take my leave, Strategist.”

“Ah… understood.”

After Irene left.

Farfalle took out a letter from her pocket.

This letter… was from Swen.

[Lady Farfalle. Something concerning seems to be happening at the southern border. I’d like to go check myself, but I need our lord’s approval and have other matters to attend to, so I can’t move freely. Since you have the authority to act freely without our lord’s approval, I request that you verify this as quickly as possible.]

At first, she wondered why he sent this letter to her instead of speaking directly to their lord.

But having served Lynn for a long time in the Brans army, she could understand.

Lynn had an extremely fastidious personality. After the defeat in the north, she was likely in a very bad mood.

For a new general, it would be difficult to freely express opinions to such a lord.

Of course, Swen had performed several unbelievable miracles, and was actually shrewd enough to see through the Aeshus army’s strategies—

But the ruler of a nation was the monarch, not the strategist or general, and exceptional ability didn’t necessarily correspond to the monarch’s trust.

When she first received the letter, she had planned to ignore it and return to Anel Castle to assess the situation before heading south—

But due to a series of events in the east, Farfalle had come to trust Swen considerably.

‘It’s not that far, so it should be fine to go check quickly.’

Chel Brans, the greatest swordsman of Brans, was at the southern border.

Even if something happened, if she could provide a solution, it wouldn’t take long to resolve.

Yes.

A quick visit should be fine.

The trust Farfalle had developed for Swen by seeing through strategies—

Was now making her move according to Swen’s wishes.

*

Not long after being assigned.

As expected, Irene received orders to build a fortress.

The fortress was constructed very quickly.

Unlike the northern one that was meticulously built with bricks, this was merely a wooden frame with a basic roof.

It was generous to call it a fortress; at best, it could be considered an outpost.

Of course, Irene didn’t mind either way.

It was sufficient for stationing soldiers, and the longer construction took, the more awkward her position might become.

“Good work, everyone. Stand by until further orders.”

“Yes! Understood!!”

The soldiers’ enthusiastic shouts echoed through the air.

Typically, fortress construction was primarily the soldiers’ responsibility.

The commander would literally just manage and supervise, never directly carrying materials.

But Irene spent the entire construction period sweating alongside her soldiers, eating and sleeping much like them.

From the soldiers’ perspective, this alone was enough to boost morale.

Especially considering the recent case in the north where a newly built fortress was immediately demolished.

In simple terms, she couldn’t be compared to commanders who made their soldiers do all the work.

On the day the fortress was completed.

Soon after, a soldier was seen riding toward them on horseback.

Judging by the Brans army insignia, it appeared to be an allied soldier.

‘A messenger…?’

Irene sensed a moment of unease.

Had Lynn noticed something?

As she was contemplating how to act if Lynn ordered her to return—

The soldier approached Irene and removed the helmet covering his face.

Irene knew exactly who this soldier was.

“…Swen?”

* * *

I arrived before the surprised Irene, slowly dismounted, and said:

“Lady Irene. I see you’ve successfully built the fortress. Well, it’s more of an outpost than a fortress.”

Hearing my words, she smiled with great delight and said:

“I was wondering when you’d join us… I didn’t expect you to come as a soldier.”

“It would be troublesome if they noticed I was missing from there. They probably think I’m meeting with the sky in the cave.”

Yes.

Why did I periodically go there and spend hours, sometimes entire days?

It was to create the impression that “Swen is someone who often meditates there to connect with the sky.”

Eventually it would be discovered, but from our perspective, gaining even a little time was sufficient.

The key was ultimately buying time.

To buy time, I sent a letter to Strategist Farfalle to lead her on a wild goose chase, and endured boring hours in the cave.

We needed to surrender as quickly as possible before Lynn noticed.

“Has there been any word yet?”

“No. We haven’t even received orders to advance yet. Though a messenger should arrive soon.”

“Good. Let’s quickly make contact with the Aeshus army.”

“Yes. But before that, there’s something to do.”

“Something to do?”

Irene nodded.

“I need to tell the soldiers. That I intend to change lords from now on. If they disagree, I’ll send them back.”

“What…?”

Surprised by these unexpected words, I couldn’t hide my confusion, but she spoke with an incredibly upright tone:

“Isn’t it obvious? The right to choose one’s lord doesn’t belong only to you and me.”

‘….’

Wait a minute.

In the game system, when a general with full authority surrendered, the soldiers under them automatically changed allegiance.

The system had already been proven to some extent through Ian’s rebellion, so was this really necessary—

…As I thought about it, I realized how soft my thinking had been.

Come to think of it, wasn’t Irene the same?

In the game, I couldn’t know what thoughts she harbored, what humiliations she endured while serving under Lynn.

Was this her pride?

The pride of a commander who wouldn’t treat her soldiers carelessly.

‘…I’ll trust Lady Irene on this.’

There might be some deviation from Irene giving them a choice, but this was still a world where predictions with 100 intelligence came true.

Here, I wanted to choose preserving her pride over efficiency.

“Understood. Let’s keep those who want to stay and send away those who wish to leave.”

“Mm.”

After saying that, she slowly began walking.

I followed behind Irene.

*

At the highest point of the fortress.

Though “highest” only meant about two stories high given the small size of the fortress, it was still the perfect spot to catch the soldiers’ attention. Irene stood there and began her speech in a loud voice:

“Listen, all of you!”

All the soldiers were looking up at Irene.

It was quiet at first… but as the next sentence came out, murmurs began to rise.

“From now on, I intend to change my allegiance!”

The soldiers showed various reactions in their confusion.

Some looked at the faces of soldiers beside them, others stared blankly at Irene.

Irene continued to nobly express her intentions to such soldiers.

“There are detailed circumstances, but I know it would merely be the excuses of a traitor. I don’t expect you to understand me. Of course, I understand that this decision may be difficult to accept for you who have worked hard as members of the Brans army. Therefore, except for those who will come with me, you may leave this fortress!”

“……”

“Those who wish to leave may depart immediately! Don’t feel pressured to stay!”

“……”

And surprisingly.

Not a single soldier left their position; they simply looked up at her.

Irene was momentarily confused, but.

“Lady Irene.”

As I gently placed my hand on her shoulder, she seemed to regain her composure and shouted again in a loud voice:

“Those who remain, I’ll assume you’re willing to follow me. Any objections!”

And with those words—

Finally, voices rose from among the soldiers.

“None!”

“The one we serve is General Irene!”

“We will follow General Irene!”

“Please accept us!”

“……”

I wondered.

Was this the forced effect of the “system”?

I can say with certainty that it was not.

While this world was based on a game, it was undeniably real.

Just as James, whom I met, had his own microcosm, these soldiers too had the right to choose their rightful superior.

Irene… had definitely captured their hearts.

Having traveled long distances with her, I could tell.

How much the soldiers trusted and followed her.

The path she had walked, and the soldiers’ desire to follow that path… was not due to any “system.”

After the speech.

In conclusion, we secured approximately 38,000 soldiers without a single desertion.

Now only one thing remained.

Meeting with Baranga Yurie Aeshus.

* * *

On the day of the speech.

A soldier carrying a letter expressing the intent to surrender rode to Castle Valhart.

And a few days later.

“An Aeshus army soldier is approaching!”

A soldier on horseback was riding toward us.

Carefully carrying a red flag symbolizing the Aeshus army.

Upon arriving at the fortress, he passed through the gate without difficulty and reached Irene.

His uniform was noticeably different from that of the Brans army.

If there was a familiar mark, it would be the red armband he wore.

He appeared to be a messenger dispatched as an envoy to convey the Aeshus army’s response.

“Are you General Irene?”

“I am.”

“My lord, Baranga Yurie Aeshus, wishes to speak with you. He has set up a light camp not far from here with his soldiers. I would like to escort you there.”

“Mm.”

Good.

It seemed he was willing to talk.

If he would just listen… we could somehow find a breakthrough.

‘Let’s go see the face of our new lord.’

I followed the Aeshus army messenger along with Irene and a small group of soldiers.